Osun Hijab crisis: Aregbesola should build Muslim schools – Bishop Odeleke

AS far as tele-evangelism is concerned in Nigeria, the founder of Christ Message Ministries, Bishop Bolanle Odeleke has had her footprints engraved in the sands of time. Being the first female bishop in Africa, Odeleke has lent her voice to various issues in Christianity as well as national. Recently, she celebrated her 66th birthday which coincided with the maiden edition of the church founder’s day. In this interview with OLAYINKA LATONA, Odeleke recalls how God has helped her in her ministerial journey and used the opportunity to speak on the controversy surrounding the wearing of hijab among female Muslim students in all public schools in Osun State and called on Gov. Aregbesola to establish Muslim schools for Muslim students rather than causing chaos and rivalry among the two religions. Excerpts...
What is the secret of youthful look even at 66?
The secret is God and I feel good and happy because the Lord has been helping me despite various challenges. God even told us that we will encounter tribulations in this world but we should cheer up because He has gone ahead of us to conquer all life's battles for His children. That is why God helped me to overcome the challenges that reared their heads at that time and for me to know and experience the awesomeness of God.
Advice to upcoming ministers of God
The number one thing is that they should hold on to God and focus on to their calling. I used to advise people not to come to the ministry if God did not call them because ministry is not an easy task. What we are doing today is just a glamorous part of it. If one is not called and deep rooted in the Word of God, when troubles come, such a person will be swept away.
Upcoming ministers of God should be rooted in Christ who will uphold them in times of trial. They must be passionate about ministerial work and the people so that they will be able to overcome ministerial challenges.
On corruption in the nation and among Christians
I can tell you that the Church of God in Nigeria is trying its best to arrest the menace of corruption in the society. In my church, I speak against it and advise members to be good ambassadors of Christ wherever they find themselves and I know other ministers of God who preach against corruption in their churches. If one is a follower of Christ in the real sense, such a person will not be involved in corrupt acts because he or she is guided by the Spirit of God. The Church is doing a lot to curb series of challenges that have been confronting us as a nation. Corruption would have even be bigger than what we have now. There would have been war in Nigeria, if not for the Church. But we did not stay on the roof top to proclaim it, because we are not commercial prophets. When God says something concerning the nation, we gather ourselves as a Church and we prayed. We teach our congregation to be a good ambassadors of Nigeria and it has been like that. There are lots of our members in the secular world doing wellnote who are not involved in corrupt practices. This is so because most church leaders preach Christ and discipline to our members.
Low prophetical words in the Church of God
There are still prophetic words but the problem is that publicity is being given to those who profess them-selves as servants of God and they are not. In the 80's we had great prophets of God like late Arch-bishop Benson Idahosa, late Baba Obadare, Prophet Abiara including me. We used to preach in the tele-vision stations and send out messag-es to those in authorities. The challenge now is that we have flocks of people that profess themselves as prophets whereas they are not. We still have genuine prophets in Christendom.
How will you rate women in ministry?
I give God the glory that we now have lots of wo-men in ministry unlike years back. It got to a stage that I started pray-ing for God to raise more females in the work of ministry. I wondered why I should be the only fe-male among other mini-sters of God then. I started groom